Brothers Caleb and Evan Perry started on the apprenticeship path during their time at Bauxite High School. Older brother Caleb was encouraged by his guidance counselors to apply to the journeyman electrician program at Thompson Electric in Little Rock. It didn’t take Evan long to follow suit. Caleb has since finished and received his electrician’s license, while Evan is on track to do the same. Both say they appreciate how the apprenticeship program taught them the skills of the trade, gave them real world experience and helped them earn money right away, all at the same time.

How does the apprenticeship program work?
Caleb: You take a class one night a week for four years. In class, you learn about the electrical code, safety and how to do specific duties. While you learn a lot in class, you mainly learn how to preform your job in the field. When you’re hired at Thompson, they pay for all four years of the program, which is very fortunate because there are a lot of companies that make each individual pay themselves.

Evan: After your coursework and so many hours of on-the-job training, you take an exam. Once you pass, you get your electrician’s license.

What’s a typical day like for you?
Caleb: It’s a lot of hard work. Being a journeyman comes with responsibilities. I have to make sure the guys under me are doing their job while I still have to do mine. I have to set an example for the up-and-coming apprentices.

Evan: I could be bending pipe, pulling wire or hooking up switches or receptacles. There’s no limit to what you can learn from your foreman or journeyman. Everybody has some knowledge to share.

What’s been the biggest challenge about life after high school so far?
Evan: Getting used to the workflow and realizing you’re not a kid anymore.

This option is for you if:

• You need job-specific training
• You love hands-on learning
• You want to fast track to the workforce

LENGTH OF PROGRAM: It depends on the craft or trade you choose—training can take one to six years.

COST: Apprenticeships are much more affordable than other options thanks to partnering businesses sharing some or all of the costs with apprentices. Don’t be surprised to find them paying for textbooks and splitting travel costs to and from job sites, too.

PAY: That’s right. Most of these gigs pay! The average apprentice earns about half of what skilled workers earn starting out, with the salary increasing as training progresses.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Most programs require a high school diploma, and some supervisors like to review your attendance/tardiness records.

HOUSING: You’ll have to make your own housing arrangements. Think of this as a big preview of living and working in the real world.